Good morning Senator Boyle, Representative Welsh, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I am testifying in support of LD 1302. NRCM supports LD 1302 because it would strengthen last year’s mining bill in Read More
Waters
Clean, healthy waterways are vital to our day-to-day lives. They help ensure safe drinking water, suitable habitat for fish and other wildlife, and recreational opportunities that make Maine a special place to live, work, and visit. NRCM has been working on clean water issues since we were founded in 1959 to protect the Allagash.
NRCM continues to advocate for clean and healthy waters across Maine. Read more news & blogs about our work to protect Maine's beautiful rivers, lakes, and streams.
LePage Allows Alewives Bill to Become Law
by Dennis Hoey, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Eighteen years ago, the Legislature approved a blockade that prevented alewives from running up the St. Croix River. In a historic decision that largely went unnoticed, that blockade will be lifted in a few days after Gov. Paul LePage opted not to veto LD 72. Read More
Historic Fish Runs to be Restored on International Boundary River
The Chattanoogan news story After nearly 20 years of exile from their native waters, alewives will once again migrate up the St. Croix River watershed. The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is pleased that Bill LD 72 became law on Monday, requiring state officials to remove barriers to fish passage at Grand Falls Dam. The law comes Read More
New Maine Law Will Let Alewives Return to the St. Croix River
Returning native river herring to the river may create largest run in the nation, over time NRCM Press Release Augusta, Maine — Today, is a big day in the lives of river herring of the St. Croix River, as a bill became law that will finally allow alewives to return to spawn in upstream lakes Read More
Alewives Win Full Passage to St. Croix River Watershed without LePage’s Signature
by Christopher Cousins Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill that opens the entire St. Croix watershed to sea-run alewives for the first time in nearly three decades went into law Tuesday without the signature of Gov. Paul LePage. The bill, LD 72, An Act to Open the St. Croix River to Read More
Lead Sinker Ban Will Help Keep Loon Calls Ringing Out Over Our Lakes
The proposal will protect the birds from poisoning so that we all can continue to enjoy them. by Ted Koffman Maine Sunday Telegram op-ed FALMOUTH – The call of the common loon is one of Maine’s unique and iconic sounds. It conjures up images of lakeside camps, leisurely swims and quiet fishing time with family. Read More
Maine Lawmakers Go with Alewives’ Flow
Bangor Daily News editorial Finally, after years of Maine politicians ignoring the science that supports the benefits of alewives returning to the upper reaches of the St. Croix River, they have acted on that scientific knowledge. On Wednesday, the Maine Legislature passed LD 72, a bill sponsored by Rep. Madonna Soctomah of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Read More
Alewives on the St. Croix: A “Mistake” Fixed
Five years later, the policy of blocking alewives was looking increasingly anachronistic. by Douglas Rooks Working Waterfront news story AUGUSTA — By May 1, alewives could have a clear path up the St. Croix River drainage for the first time in 18 years. After a contentious hearing March 25 which lasted almost four hours, the Read More
St. Croix Alewives Measure Clears Key Maine Panel
by Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A key legislative committee has endorsed a measure that would open most of the St. Croix River to alewives by the end of this month. The emergency legislation, LD 72, received unanimous approval from the legislators at Monday morning’s vote. It needs final Read More
